A DRINK driver who crashed his car near Carlisle city centre initially fled from the scene - but than had second thoughts and got a taxi back to the scene of the accident.

Karl Matthew Ungless, 29, crashed his Citroen car into railings on Georgian Way on March 2.

Witnesses saw the defendant leaving the scene, prompting police to issue a description of him as they began their efforts to trace him.

But before they could find him, Ungless, of Kirkbampton, near Carlisle, realised he had a made a mistake and made his way back to Georgian Way and surrendered himself to police officers.

A roadside breath test revealed he had 52mcg of alcohol in 100mls of breath.

The legal limit is 35mcg.

At the city's Rickergate court, the defendant entered a guilty plea to an allegation of drink driving.

Prosecutor Pam Ward told the court: "He cooperated fully with the police officers and took the roadside breath test. He made full admissions, and said he had panicked after the accident and ran from the scene.

"He then got a taxi and asked to be taken to the scene. He has no previous convictions for like offences."

In court, Ungless told magistrates: "I have been an idiot.

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have done it. You don't realise what you are doing, messing up your life with one stupid mistake. I thought I was all right."

After panicking, and leaving the scene of the accident, he had been struck by the thought: "What the hell am I doing?" he said.

Ungless continued: "The police were absolutely brilliant with me.

"Now I am walking 16 miles a day just to get to work."

Magistrates pointed out that the accident could have been far worse.

The presiding magistrate added: "You are obviously sorry about it; you returned to the scene and you cooperated."

They fined him £360, with £85 costs and a £36 victim surcharge.

The court banned Ungless from driving for 14 months but offered him the drink drivers' rehabilitation course, which if completed in time will reduce his ban by 14 weeks.